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Medicos lodge protest against quota in blood
Ludhiana, May 30 The protesting students also wrote thought-provoking anti-reservation slogans on the banner. The campaign started on the DMCH campus with Mohmeet Singh and Preeti signing the banner, followed by a large number of other students. Within minutes, the white piece of cloth became blood-soaked with signatures of agitating medicos. According to activists of the Youth for Equality, the protesting medicos called a general body meeting of the association at Dumra Auditorium of the DMCH, where the line of action for the anti-reservation agitation would be discussed and finalised. The banner would be displayed for the general public during the proposed anti-reservation protest marches all over the city and later, sent to the Prime Minister through the district authorities. The medicos again appealed to the masses to come forward and join hands in the anti-quota stir for their future. They also sought the support of like-minded groups from different walks of life so that the government could be forced to reverse its caste-based reservation policy.
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Pak orders renovation
of historic gurdwara
Ludhiana, May 30 The historic gurdwara which was lying in a dilapidated condition had been illegally occupied by some people. However, it was at the instance of a local youth, SunnaUllah Ghumman, that made the government to evacuate the illegal occupants and order the renovation of the gurdwara. According to Mr Manjit Inder Singh Johal, a resident of Mandiani village, near here, who visited the shrine recently, the gurdwara was built jointly by Hindus and Sikhs to commemorate the visit of Guru Nanak to the place, which by then was a major centre of Sufism in Punjab. Half a kilometer from the Gurdwara is the mazaar of eighth century Sufi Saint Haji Sher Mohammed. Interestingly, Baba Sheikh Farid was born here in 1173 AD when the place was called Kothiwal. Mr Johal said though Dewan Sahib of Haji Sher Mohammad continues to attract the pilgrims on the annual Urs, gurdwara Tapsathan of Guru Nanak remained in oblivion till recent past. He said, thanks to the pains taken by Mr Sanaullah Ghuman, a farmer and social worker of nearby Chak 201 EB and a son of a former local member of its Provincial Assembly, the late Abdul Hamid Ghuman, Sanaullah visited this part of Punjab twice and has many friends here. He said he had learnt about the existence of the historical gurdwara from Mr Harnek Singh Gharuan, an ex Minister of Punjab and its importance to the Sikhs. The gurdwara which was sealed in 1994, was under illegal occupation of a migrant family. The premises, which included a dharamshala measuring 4 kanals and 5 marlas, two murrabas (50 acres) of agricultural land is also attached to it. Mr Sunna Ullah Ghuman in a letter appealed to the President General Pervez Musharaff, to get the gurdwara vacated and renovated. This moved the provincial administration into action and the department surveyed the site and the engineer prepared the estimate to reconstruct the boundary and renovation of the main gurdwara hall.
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Jeweller detained, market closed in protest
Ludhiana, May 30 The association members closed the market for three hours in protest and assembled in a large number at the CIA headquarters where the goldsmith was being questioned. Later, in the afternoon the police released the detained jeweller on the assurance of the association that if he was guilty it would produce him before the police and return the stolen jewellery. “We have given the association time till Monday next to come clean on the issue”, said DSP-Detective Bhupinder Singh. He said the police had got vital clues that the four persons who had murdered Jaswant Rai in July last year had sold the stolen jewellery to the detained goldsmith. Mr Manoj Dhanda, president, Ludhiana Jewellers Association, claimed to Ludhiana Tribune that the police had not adopted proper legal procedure in questioning of the jeweller. “The police team led by a Sub-Inspector came through the back door of the shop and whisked away the jeweller. He was not explained any reason and was not told the destination also”. He said the association was not protecting a suspect. “We would be the first to turn him in if he had bought and sold the stolen jewellery,” he said. The police had announced on May 20 last that three accused had been arrested in the 10-month-old Jaswant Rai murder case. The youths were Anil Kumar, Jatin Kumar, alias Jimmy, and Pradeep Kumar, alias Kaku. The fourth and main accused, Rajiv Kumar, who was also wanted in the sensational Raghav Jewellers murder case, was still absconding. Sources said the arrested
accused had revealed during interrogation that they had sold nearly 35 tolas of jewellery stolen from Jaswant Rai’s house. The 75-year-old Jaswant Rai was stabbed a number of times in his stomach and chest. His wife, Bhagya Devi, (70), was injured in the attack. The elderly couple used to stay alone in their house. Their two sons lived with their families nearby.
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Rising property prices lead to litigation
Ludhiana, May 30 Since there is usually a considerable time gap between the settlement of a deal and the final transfer and registration, a number of sellers have been found backing out as they get better offers in the meanwhile. This has led a number of prospective buyers seeking legal recourse. It is learnt that quite a number of real estate deals which were proposed along the Ferozepur Road during the last one year could not reach their logical conclusion for the same reason. While in most of the cases it is the sellers who back out, in some cases even the prospective buyers have sought the cancellation of the deals. A senior revenue official disclosed that usually the time gap between the settlement of the deal and the final registration is few months. During this time the real estate prices witnessed sharp rise. With the result some sellers, mostly the farmers, started to back out. However, the revenue official added usually it was not possible for the seller or the buyer to back out since legal formalities are completed at the settlement of the deal. Even the prospective buyer, who deposits considerable amount, remains legally safe as he can always seek legal recourse. In one case, a land deal along the Ferozepur Road was reportedly settled for Rs 65 lakh. The time gap for the registration was about three months. However, the person concerned backed out and refused to get the land transferred and instead demanded Rs 1.2 crore. The revenue official disclosed that the real estate prices had risen substantially. Since he was legally bound to sell it for the price he had settled in the deal which had been documented he had limited options. He even claimed in the court that the signatures were forged. However, after verification by the forensic and fingerprint experts the signatures were found to be genuine. Revenue officials disclosed that the recent boom saw quite a number of such instances. But during the last one month, the real estate prices have started to slide down. In a few cases, the prospective buyers preferred to forfeit huge advances as the prices of the land for which they had made the advances had already come down . The officials predicted that June was going to be crucial since most deals are to be registered in the coming month only. He said there was a possibility of a number of registrations not materialising for the same reasons.
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Punjab to buy Rs 3,000 crore more power
Ludhiana, May 30 He was addressing a well attended function in field Ganj to review the development works in the constituency late last evening. Mr Dawar said though the PSEB had made arrangements to buy 1,200 MW power from the eastern sector, global tenders for purchasing 1,000 MW more would be floated shortly. He added that the stage II of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) at Lehra Mohabbat in Bathinda district would be operational early next year. Mr Dawar informed that the board had made requisite arrangements to procure power from various sources at much higher rates to reduce the gap between demand and availability. He said though the board had arranged to buy 1,200 MW of power from the eastern sector, only 600 MW was available to Punjab due to the non-availability of a corridor. He said important over-loaded grid sub-stations and transformers were being augmented and overloaded feeders were being bifurcated to reduce their loads. Mr Dawar also asked the farmers to refrain from the use of unauthorised motors. He said the field officers had been directed to take strict action against the defaulters. To ensure prompt redress of problems during the season, the presence of field officers and supervisory staff at sub-divisions, sub-offices and complaint centres would be ensured. Orders had been issued through the distribution Chief Engineers to ensure the presence of all SDOs and JEs at their headquarters so that immediate remedial steps could be taken in case of any kind of local fault. He also directed the field offices to maintain proper complaint/suggestion register at all complaint centres/subdivisions. Mr Dawar also informed that a grievances committee comprising representatives of kisan unions and field officers were also being constituted for having proper interaction and feed back about supply position and problems faced by consumers on a regular basis. Referring to the development in the Ludhiana East constituency, he claimed that Rs 30 crore had already been spent on various development projects during the past four years and a special project of Rs 18 crore for covering the Sullage Nala passing through the constituency had also been launched. He said Rs 7 crore more were being spent on the development projects in the constituency under the Punjab Nirman Programme and out of which grants of Rs 1 crore had already been released. Others present on the occasion included Mr Ramesh Joshi, secretary, PPCC, Mr Sanjay Talwar, Mr Ashok Prashar Pappi, both councillors, Mr Sarabjit Banti, Principal Varinder Kaur, Ms Rajinder Kaur and Ms Santosh Kaur.
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BJP councillor alleges
stepmotherly treatment
Ludhiana, May 30 Flanked by his supporters, Mr Surinder Sharma, councillor of Ward number 22, sat outside the corporation office and raised slogans against the authorities. Braving the heat to put across his viewpoint, Mr Sharma said that all colonies in his area were wanting in civic amenities, there was no water supply, sewerage and streetlights. Despite his raising the matter in the general house meeting, nothing was done to help the residents. He said that at least 10 streets in Maha Singh Nagar were dug up to lay a sewer line some months ago, but the work was suspended in between. ‘‘Despite my requesting them again and again, the work was not restarted. If I raise a
protest, the Mayor tells his supporters to burn my effigy so that I may keep quiet, ’’ alleged Mr Sharma. The angry councillor also said that in Surjeet Nagar and Gurmeet Nagar, the work on laying pipeline was stopped even as the tenders were invited for this project. To install streetlights in Gagan Nagar, Laxman Nagar, Power Colony, Hargobind Nagar and New Gagan Nagar, the corporation had prepared an estimate around three years ago. But even after this, streetlights could not see the light of the day, he rued. Similarly, the work on the cremation ground at Daba Road was also being delayed despite the calling of tenders three years ago. ‘‘The works in my ward are being delayed as I am a BJP councillor. This is what they do. And if we raise a stink, they want us to keep shut, ’’ he added. Even the declared colonies of his ward were not being provided potable water despite the tall claims of the Corporation to supply water in 100 per cent declared areas. Rubbishing these claims, Mr Sharma said, ‘‘People in these colonies draw water through the handpumps as there is no supply line. In Ambedkar Nagar last year, seven persons had died due to consumption of contaminated water. The Commissioner had visited the area and promised that these people would be supplied clean drinking water through the tankers. The season of water-borne diseases had started again but not even a single tanker had arrived in the locality. They were waiting for an epidemic before they swung into action, ’’ he said. ‘‘The Commissioner had himself recommended some works from the general quota of funds for my ward. The files were stopped after there was a hue and cry that I was an opposition councillor. The works were only done after the money was released from the councillor quota. This is how things work here, ’’ he alleged.
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Land allotment to club challenged
Ludhiana, May 30 The suit has been filed in the court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Ludhiana ,and the next hearing has been fixed for June 7. The petition filed by Mr Inderjit Singh Khurana and Mr Rakesh Arora has maintained that the land measuring about 6000 square yards was meant for the establishment of a health centre for the benefit of the residents. But the authorities of the Ludhiana Improvement trust did not take any steps in this regard for the past more than two decades. The land has growth of unwanted and hazardous plants and has become abode of wild animals like snakes and wild dogs. The Improvement Trust authorities never bothered to clear the land in dispute. The petitioners have further submitted that residents of the locality collected Rs 5000 from each house and the land was got cleared and all the unwanted plants were removed. They spent lakhs of rupees in the process. The authorities concerned then did not raise any objection and the piece of land was developed into a beautiful park. The petitioners have also brought to the notice of the court that now the trust has allotted the land to the Rotary Club (North) for the establishment of a senior citizen home. They have mentioned that there are already about six senior citizen homes in the locality which are administered by the social and political organisations. These senior citizen homes are being used for commercial purposes. The residents of nearly six residential colonies, including Rajguru Nagar, Lal Bagh, Aman Park and Rajguru Nagar Extension, have sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, requesting him to cancel the allotment of land to the Rotary Club North and declare the park as public park. The residents have pointed out that the Rotary Club and the Lions Club have already got land from the Improvement Trust and have set up their bhavans in the posh colonies of the town. They alleged that the clubs are using these for commercial purposes like giving the bhavans on hire for marriages and other social functions, charging heavy rent . The Rotary Club can have a senior citizen home in the Rotary Bhavan which has sufficient land available, they said They have submitted to the Chief Minister that Ludhiana being the most polluted city needs more and more public parks and green lungs of the city should not be cut and destroyed.
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16 cows die due to acidosis
Machhiwara, May 30 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, the president of the Gaushala Managing Committee, Mr Sushil Luthra, said this happened due to excess intake of chapatis by the cows. The chapatis were sent to the gaushala by residents of a nearby village who had arranged a langar. Veterinary doctors Dr Narinder Paul Singh and Dr Sarbjit Singh were called. But the treatment did not help much. In the morning, the number of dead cows was five and the toll increased to 10 in the afternoon and 16 in the evening. Dr Sarbjit Singh said the cows had consumed chapatis in excess which made them suffer from acidosis. The ailing animals were being given medicines, injections and glucose. Activists of the People for Animals led by Mr Ajay Jain also visited the gaushala. Mr Sushil Luthra didn't blame anyone for the incident and have appealed to the people of the town to maintain peace and harmony. The chapatis were sent to the gaushala by residents of nearby Pirthipur village. They had arranged a community langar in the village on May 25,26,27, he said Residents of the town are feeling very upset due to these deaths and are planning to organise puja.
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Women called upon to help fight tobacco abuse
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 30 Addressing an informal meeting of councillors at the town hall here, Dr Indu, SDM, called upon the women of the area to help the administration in achieving the target of eradicating the menace of tobacco consumption, more particularly by the children and the youth. “Though the Constitution had provided legal and constitutional procedures to check the use of tobacco and materials prepared by it, these measures could not yield desired results without the active involvement of social organisations. But women can prove most effective tool to check tobacco consumption by age groups and sexes,” said Dr Indu. Referring to information collected through journals on the subject, Dr Indu warned that smoking and tobacco chewing if not checked would emerge as the leading cause of preventable premature death. “Unless smoking behaviour changes, three decades from now premature deaths caused by tobacco in the developing world will exceed the expected deaths from AIDS, tuberculosis and complications of child-birth combined”, cautioned Dr Indu. She recalled enormous health problems with which tobacco was either related causally or associated promotionally. “It is an important cause of cancers not only of the respiratory tract such as mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea and lungs, but also of oesophagus, stomach and even of distant organs like the urinary bladder”. “It can promote cancers of blood and of almost any organ of the body. It causes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, subsequently resulting in chronic respiratory debility, failure and death”. Mr Jatinder Bhola, president, Municipal Council, Ms Santosh Rani, vice-president of the council, Ms Chiter Rekha and Ms Veena Puri, both councillors, assured of efforts to create awareness among masses about the hazards associated with smoking and tobacco chewing.
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Indian woman to be paramedic in
western Canada
Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 30 She has called upon senior-generation Punjabis to understand the feelings of their wards in general and daughters in particular and to provide them with an atmosphere that will help them achieve their targets. She is waiting for the moment when she will be allowed to handle accident victims and shift them safely. She had desired to be a nurse and had watched nurses serving her mother at a hospital at Canada. Ms Preet said lack of communication between parents and their wards had affected the physiologival and psychological development of the youth adversely. She said the youth should understand the feelings of their parents and avoid hurting them.
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34-year-old heart patient needs help
Ludhiana, May 30 The patient, admitted to Hero DMC Heart Institute (HDHI) here, has a damaged heart valve, which is causing serious problems due to leakage of blood. The condition is a complication of prolonged and untreated rheumatic fever, according to Dr Gurpreet Singh Wander, Chief of Cardiology unit at the HDHI. Surjit Singh, working on daily wages and the only earning member of a family of five persons, is not in a position to afford the surgery, involving an expenditure of nearly Rs 1.85 lakh. His mother, whose hope is on the generosity of kind-hearted city residents, says Surjit, in his present condition, finds it difficult to do work. The cardiac surgeons at the hospital, Dr V.K. Sharma and Dr Sarju Ralhan, who are providing medical support to the patient for the time being said only immediate surgery could save the life of the patient. Because with passage of time, he was at the risk of worsening congestive heart failure. This in simple terms means that his heart will enlarge and will not pump blood. Though the hospital authorities have decided to go ahead with the surgery and the management has also offered to waive off 30 per cent hospital charges, still the family needs financial assistance. In a fervent appeal to the good Samaritans, Surjit's mother has asked for financial help. “This act of kindness will not only bring back the patient from the jaws of death but also save other members of the family, including two small kids, who are otherwise doomed,” she added. Donations for the patient can be made by cash or cheque to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, with “donation for treatment of Surjit Singh (HDHI)” written on the back of the draft or cheque. Dr V.K. Sharma (98156-03545) or Dr Sarju Ralhan (98140-64210) can also be contacted for this purpose.
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Senior citizens demand rent-free telephones
Ludhiana, May 30 In a memorandum submitted to the Union Government, the association has submitted that in the prevailing traffic congestion and hectic way of life, it had become extremely difficult for the aged people to move about, especially in the fast growing cities. Moreover, with the high cost of medical care and other daily needs of life, the senior citizens were hard pressed as far as financial resources were concerned. Mr Sher Singh, president of the association, pointed out that even if the government prevailed upon the telecom PSUs to provide rent-free telephone connections to the elderly people, the service providers would earn money from inward calls and also the outgoing calls made by the subscribers from such telephones. The association further said in case such a proposal was not viable, then the BSNL and other public sector telecom companies be directed to introduce a revised ‘sulabh’ plan of Rs 99 monthly rental and 50 free calls per month for the senior citizens.
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Satluj Club to hold summer camp from June 3
Ludhiana, May 30 Addressing a press conference here today, the secretary of the club Mr Sanjay Arora and the Cultural Secretary, Mr Sanjeev Dhanda said the camp would be inaugurated by Ms Anjali Gupta, wife of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Gupta, who is the ex-officio president of the club. They disclosed that a special stage performance by the club members, their spouses and dependents selected during the camp would be held on June 18 evening in the club lawns. The camp includes cookery classes, folk dances of India, Western dance, weaving beads and threads, salsa dance workshop, gift packing, vocal and instrumental music, calligraphy, home decoration and special internet classes.
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Demonstration by bank staff
Ludhiana, May 30 Addressing the rally, Mr Naresh Gaur, secretary of the federation, said pensions schemes in banks were governed by an industry-level settlement, which was signed between the Indian Banks Association and the All-India Bank Employees Association in October 2003. He said, “It is a settlement signed under the Industrial Disputes Act and is binding on all parties concerned. The Bank of India is one of the banks to which the settlement is applicable. The management is planning to propose the introduction of a defined contributory and undefined pension benefit scheme for new recruits at its board meeting.” Federation leaders said no bank management had any right to tinker with the settlement and any change in the pension scheme could be done only be an amendment to the pension settlement by the parties thereto.
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Abandoned truck causes panic
Ludhiana, May 30 However, the truck driver who had even left the ignition key in the vehicle, suddenly arrived when a team of PCR cops reached the site. Some shopkeepers had called the police, claiming that the truck was parked there for the last three days. The police let the driver go after questioning and searching the vehicle.
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Seeking divorce at 70-plus
Jagraon, May 30 The marriage was solemnised last year and he left for the UK thereafter, but she could not migrate and they were living separately since May 2005. The court adjourned the hearing to July 18 for the statement of the couple.
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Conman held
Ludhiana, May 30 Inspector Gursewak Singh Brar, SHO of the police station, told mediapersons that the nabbed suspect, Munna and his absconding accomplice, Ashok, were fleecing people, especially illiterate migrants. He said Munna used to search for his victims near banks or post offices in the Industrial Area. He would pose as if he had come to deposit some amount. He would generally go there at the time of the closing down of the banks or post offices. The SHO said the two had duped a migrant in exchanging his Rs 2000 with fake Rs 50,000 today . The unassuming victim had just seen a real Rs 100 note on the wad of notes but was shocked when only plain paper was found under it.
TNS
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Coloniser attacked
Ludhiana, May 30 The victim, Ravinder Singh, was admitted to Civil Hospital with multiple injures. The police registered a case and further investigations were on.
TNS Jagraon
Poppy husk seized The police arrested Jagseer Singh of Badal Patti Kaunke village in the Dangian area and seized 30 kg of poppy husk from his possession. Illicit liquor
case Jiwabai and Buta Singh of Parjian Biharipur village were booked for distilling illicit liquor. The police seized 30 kg of ‘lahn’ and 4,680 ml of illicit liquor and arrested
Jiwabai, but Buta Singh fled. Four booked for assault The police booked Kala, his father Gurmail, mother Darbara and Kewal of Rachian village for beating up Nachhattar Singh of the same village and locking him in a room over an old dispute. |
Delay in VAT refunds condemned
Ludhiana, May 30 According to industrialists, the department is refusing or delaying payments on the basis of "unconvincing" reasons like non-availability of records of claimants with them. "A lot of industrial tax payers have complained that officials of the Excise and Taxation Department are refusing them VAT refunds stating that computerised records are not available with them and are asking the claimants to produce copies of their purchase returns after procuring it from their sellers, which is not an easy task," said Mr Avtar Singh, general secretary, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU). "We have learnt that the department has not even made computerised entries of quarterly returns of the claimants for the quarter ending December 2005," he alleged. Industrialists said that the department should not harass them for their own inefficiency. CICU had also urged the Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Singla, to ask the department officials to speeden up the process of VAT refunds. The District Taxation Bar Association (Sales Tax), meanwhile, conducted a meeting to discuss problems relating to VAT being faced by industry. Mr Varinder Sharma, secretary of the association, said that traders were suffering due to delay in VAT refunds. Highlighting other problems, the association condemned non-issuance of notification by the state government pertaining to abolition of VAT audit provisions , announced by the Finance Minister , Punjab, while presenting the budget for 2006-07. Mr Rajeev Johar, president of the association, said the department was not making amendments regarding change of business by tax payers, which was causing problems for industrialists.
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